European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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To explore the impact of prostate cancer treatment on: (a) the experience of symptoms (i.e. sexual, urinary, and bowel), and (b) perceived health state of men with prostate cancer one month following their radiation treatment. ⋯ Our findings suggest that prostate cancer treatment presents a challenge with regard to symptom experiences and perceived health state in men with prostate cancer. Therefore, strategies for patient education to assist men to cope with their symptoms and to provide them with support in the initial weeks following treatment are discussed.
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The primary endpoint of this study was to determine predictors of taxane-related nail toxicity. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the efficacy of the use of frozen gloves and socks in the prevention of taxane-related nail toxicity. ⋯ The multivariate analysis demonstrated that BMI, breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis and the number of taxane cycles administered were the independent factors for this toxicity. No statistically significant difference in nail toxicity incidence and time to occurrence of nail changes was found between the intervention and the control groups.
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Comparative Study
Pain and anxiety during bone marrow aspiration/biopsy: Comparison of ratings among patients versus health-care professionals.
To assess pain and anxiety during bone marrow aspiration/biopsy (BMA) among patients versus health-care professionals (HCPs). ⋯ We found a better congruence between patients and HCPs in pain ratings than in anxiety ratings, where the agreement was low. RNs and physicians underestimated severe pain as well as anxiety about BMA outcome and needle insertion.
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How Quality of Life (QoL) assessment is conducted across different oncology wards and palliative settings is a challenging issue and needs to be searched further. There is a lack of interpretive research study in Australian populations in which QoL assessment for cancer patients in oncology and palliative areas has deeply been explored. Therefore, an interpretive research study was conducted to explore in-depth nurses' QoL assessment conducted in oncology wards and palliative settings. ⋯ Findings of the research study generally supported the notion that nurses mainly pick up on patients' cues as a way for QoL assessment when they communicate with patients in the clinical area rather than using QoL tools. Also, nurses are, at times, uncertain if they are doing a QoL assessment and if their assessment of patients' QoL is correct or not. Therefore, this supports a need for nurses to develop a more holistic relationship and stronger rapport with patients which underpins the assessment of cancer patients' QoL through various cues.
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Breast cancer largely affects older women (≥ 70 y) who have historically been excluded from clinical trials; consequently, treatment is often not evidence-based. Older women may not be offered adjuvant chemotherapy due to assumptions that they would not benefit, cannot tolerate it or do not wish to have it. Specialist breast care nurses (BCN) and research nurses (RN) play an important role influencing decisions. We report the roles, attitudes and involvement of such nurses regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in older women. ⋯ This study suggests a need to develop the role of specialist nurses to facilitate treatment decision-making relating to chemotherapy in older women.